Fender '64 Custom Deluxe ReverbFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 49 mentions across 14 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment49%
PROS 49%
CONS 51%

Rank based on 49 mentions across 14 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want authentic hand-wired blackface tone with more dynamic range than a standard reissue
  • You're chasing vintage Deluxe Reverb sound but don't want to deal with an actual vintage amp
  • You play gigs where a light, loud, pine-cabinet combo with classic chime matters

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're not willing to risk reverb hum, noisy channels, or component failures on an expensive amp
  • You want a smooth touch-sensitive breakup rather than an abrupt clean-to-crunch transition
  • You're not convinced the tone justifies roughly double the price of a '65 reissue

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendly
Tube-like tone and feel
Excellent clean channel
Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules
Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel
No included footswitch
2Premium
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatility
Great cleanup via guitar volume
Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage
Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some
Price relative to alternatives
Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Best value
3Mid
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatility
Great with pedals / clean platform
Long-term keeper amp
Cleans not its strongest suit
Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box
Stock preamp tubes considered weak
4Mid
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound quality
Good speaker pairing versatility
HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience
AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue
DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs
Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
5Budget
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its size
TonePrint effects built in
Clean, full, realistic tone
Always-lit tuner display
Insufficient power for loud full bands
Single effect slot limitation
6Premium
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain tone
Built-in CabClone IR / direct out
Build quality and versatility praised by owners
High price
Missing third channel and solo boost
No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
7Mid
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphones
Compact, high-quality build
Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality
Early sound-mode switching bug
Limited single-ended power for some planars
Not fully wireless
8Premium
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatility
Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment
Smooth, musical high-gain distortion
High price
Overwhelming number of options
Some find it too polished or lacking rawness
9Mid
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
10Mid
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platform
Lush onboard chorus
Exceptional clean tone
Background hiss/hum
Weak onboard distortion
Some pedals don't pair well
You are here
31Premium
Fender '64 Custom Deluxe Reverb
Glorious, dynamic toneBeats boutique competitors in shootoutsOutperforms other reissues in comparisonExcessive noise and humComponent and build failuresHigh price relative to alternatives
Fender '64 Custom Deluxe Reverb
Glorious, dynamic tone
Beats boutique competitors in shootouts
Outperforms other reissues in comparison
Excessive noise and hum
Component and build failures
High price relative to alternatives

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The tone and dynamics win over most players who try it. Commenters consistently describe the amp as glorious, 3D, and more dynamic than '65 or '68 reissues, with the hand-wiring and components credited for extra frequencies and touch response. Several owners who directly compared it to Tone King Imperial, Sky King, and Morgan PR36 amps at shops like Sweetwater chose the '64 for its lighter weight and superior dynamic range. Long-time Deluxe Reverb fans say it captures 'that sound' better than any modern alternative.

Quality control problems show up often enough to worry buyers. Multiple owners report reverb tank feedback and howling, loud hum with no guitar plugged in, an unattached speaker wire straight out of the box, and cheap-feeling noisy pots. One self-described amp tech found nearly all coupling caps failed on a bench unit, while others describe blown power transformers and broken intensity potentiometers under warranty. These issues appear inconsistent, since many other owners report zero problems after years of gigging.

Price and breakup behavior split opinion sharply. At about $2,500, several commenters argue there isn't a price-justifying tone difference versus a '65 reissue costing half as much, with one noting a true vintage Deluxe Reverb could be had for similar money. Some players also found the breakup point abrupt rather than the smooth clean-to-compressed transition prized in originals, and disliked the stock speaker or an overly bright volume cap. Still, buyers who scored discounts or valued the factory warranty over vintage hassles felt it was worth every penny.

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